October 22, 2015 BOWLING NEWS Page 1 California Thursday January 14, 2016 B7502 E Florence Ave,owling Downey, CA 90240 • Online: www.californiabowlingnews.com • Email: [email protected] n ews• Office: (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Jon Van Hees Wins PBA Scorpion Championship For First PBA Tour Title 11-year veteran becomes first Rhode Island native to win a PBA Tour title RENO — Jon Van Hees’ ance at the end of a string patience finally paid its big- of 106 career tournaments. gest dividend when the 11- “I’m trying to get a handle year part-time Professional on them. It’s been an unbe- Bowlers Association Tour lievable 48 hours. competitor from Charles- “I started this quest 27 town, R.I., defeated Jason years ago. I’ve always been Sterner of Covington, Ga., kind of a late bloomer, but 202-176, to win the PBA if I put the time and effort Scorpion Championship into it, I can usually get to presented by Reno Tahoe where I want to go.” opening in the ninth frame. today would be my day, and USA at the National Bowl- Van Hees got his title When Waliczek was un- fortunately it was.” ing Stadium, becoming the after surviving a 209-191 able to strike to close the PBA World Series cov- first Rhode Island native to battle with Lonnie Walic- gap, Van Hees threw three erage on ESPN continues win a PBA Tour title. zek of Wichita, Kan., in strikes in his 10th frame with the stepladder finals The Scorpion Cham- the semifinal round, and a to seal a trip to the cham- of the Mark Roth/Marshall pionship aired Sunday on couple of bad frames in the pionship match where he Holman PBA Doubles ESPN. It was the fourth title match after building started with three spares Championship presented and final “animal pattern” a nearly insurmountable and a string of four strikes by Storm next Sunday at 1 championship contested lead. Sterner won his semi- to build a 49-pin lead over p.m. EST. Finalists include LEON DENT - Great Bowler, during the GEICO PBA final match by striking on Sterner. Van Hees left a Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, World Series of Bowling eight of his first nine shots 7-10 split in the eighth Pa., and Australia’s Jason Better Person.... Passes VII presented by Silver to run away from PBA Hall frame and failed to convert Belmonte meeting PBA by Frank Weiler Legacy. of Famer Parker Bohn III of the 2-4-5-8 in the ninth, but Tour rookie Matt McNiel LAS VEGAS - My friend Earl Anthony. Quite a com- “Elated, thousands of Jackson, N.J., 257-174. Sterner wasn’t able to close of Prior Lake, Minn., and Fred Kouri contacted me pliment for any bowler. emotions,” the 34-year- He led Waliczek by 24 the gap. Anthony Pepe of Elmhurst, today to say that our friend For the score of years I old Van Hees said about pins after seven frames “The guys told me it was N.Y., in the first Baker Leon Dent passed away last knew Leon he was a 200 winning a title in his first before leaving the 4-6-7- going to go really fast, and format match. The win- Monday, a few days before plus bowler. Most of those national television appear- 9-10 “Greek church” and I remember looking up and ning team will bowl Josh his 79th birthday. Leon years he booked in the 220s it was the eighth frame,” Blanchard of Phoenix and was a friend and mentor to and 230s. He scored nu- Van Hees said. “Against Andres Gomez of Colom- many. He was a great guy merous perfect 300s and Jason, I threw four really bia in match two. That win- to be around and will be re- 800s. He had a talent for ABTA Will Visit good shots in the middle ner faces Finland’s Osku membered for a long time. scoring and winning. when I needed them, and Palermaa and England’s I first met Leon some More important though Covina Bowl Saturday thankfully that was enough. Dom Barrett in the semifi- twenty years ago at a Su- is the fact that Leon was a Jason left three ringing 10 nal match. The winner will per Senior Tour (SST) great person. With me he ALL POTS CARRY OVER pins that made a big differ- bowl for the title against event and always enjoyed was always cool, calm and COVINA — ABTA will First Place as always ence, but sometimes you get top qualifiers Connor Pick- our times together chat- collected. A quite, humble resume tournament action will be $1,000 Min and up breaks and sometimes not. ford of Charlotte, N.C., and ting about bowling, mutual man who always respected Saturday January 16 at to $2,600 will be possible I’ve been on both sides. 18-year-old two-handed friends and local events. others. He always gave me popular COVINA BOWL. 1st Place with Bonuses and “It’s destiny,” he added. rookie Anthony Simonsen Dent was a big PBA fan a big smile whenever we Qualify at 1:00 - 2:30 Cash N Carry Options. Bo- “Sometimes you can’t out- of Princeton, Texas. and we always had a lot to met and a wink and bigger 4:00 & 6:00 with 33 semi- nuses include $100 wear- bowl destiny. I was hoping continued on page 8 talk about during the pro smile to my wife. He was a finalists minimum includ- ing ABTA Logo Shirt in the season. consummate gentleman. ing the Super Seniors to event, also $100 using our Leon was a great bowl- Leon was very intel- the board with the Top 16 sponsors “900” Global Ball Bowling news er. Over the years he won ligent. He observed the Bowlers to the Single Elim in the final game and win- Honor Roll numerous SST and West world around him with a Finals at 8:00 PM. All semi- ning the event. Name Score Date Center Coast Senior Tour (WCST) keen eye for detail. finalists will cash. New members are wel- ANDREW MAXEY 300 01-03-16 SANDS BOWL JASON LUCK 801 01-04-16 OAK TREE LANES titles. He was a Citrus Belt Many times he pointed TOP 16 will receive a come at up to 209 average MIKE OLSON 300 01-04-16 WINNETKA BOWL ASHLEY DUNN 703 01-05-16 GOLD COAST LANES HEIDI JACKSON 300 01-07-16 PALOS VERDES BOWL Senior Masters Champion out things about people and minimum of $100 upwards. Men and Women. Only BRANDON KRAYE 300 01-07-16 LA HABRA “300” BOWL PAT MICHAELS 300 01-07-16 MATADOR BOWL and was a threat to win any places that went unnoticed As always three women $10. RON PETERS 300 01-07-16 FOOTHILL LANES MATT SCHERMERHORN 300 01-10-16 DEL RIO LANES tournament he entered. Un- by myself. I learned to al- will be guaranteed to the NEXT Saturday January FRANK GARCIA 300 01-11-16 CARTER LANES til recently, when age and ways take note of his obser- top 16. 23 we are hosted by popu- ATTENTION ALL BOWLERS: injuries hampered him, Le- vations. Three Super Seniors, (a lar Bowlium in Montclair BOWL AN HONOR SCORE THIS WEEK & E-MAIL BY MONDAY NOON on’s form was smooth and Leon Dent was all class minimum of 2 men and 1 and January 30 will will be YOUR NAME, SCORE, DATE & CENTER & YOU WILL BE ON THE FRONT PAGE effortless. He was a stroker and will be missed by me women) will be added to hosted by Action Lanes in E-MAIL TO: [email protected] who reminded local fans of and the bowling world. the Semi Finals. El Monte. MEN: 300 - 800 & 7-10’S WOMEN: 298,299,300, 700+ & 7-10’S Far out, solid & Right-on events! EVENT OR CLUB DAY DATE BOWLING CENTER ABTA SATURDAY JAN 16 COVINA BOWL BREAKFAST CLUB FRIDAY JAN 15 LA HABRA “300” BOWL 9 Gamer - $1,000.00 1st Place SENIOR NO-TAP DOUBLES SUN-WED JAN 17-20 RIVERSIDE LANES check-in SUNDAY, March 13th at Noon 11 a.m. • Entry Fee: $100 SINGLES NO-TAP SUNDAY JAN 17 BOWLIUM LANES OPTIONAL - Sidepots - Blocks $25 • Call Jon at (949)770-0055 for more info. Oil Pattern Used BASED ON 40 ENTRIES • 1 IN 4 CASHING “TBD” WCBT SUNDAY JAN 17 DEL ROSA LANES Page 2 BOWLING NEWS January 14, 2016 SUPER Why Bowling Is So Special by Fred Eisenhammer BOWLING Take-your-breath-away moments. Bowlers often experience these special events when they produce results that few believe were possible. TOURNAMENT These feats could be remembered for minutes or months. Or years or decades. It all depends on how memorable SAT/FEB 6/11AM they are. CHECK IN AT 9AM (NV TIME) And that’s what makes bowling so special. H ENTRY FEE $16 PER BOWLER H Bowling is filled with special moments, which include highlight games or highlight series that are unforgettable. Plus $4 optional sidepots! Two 9 pin no–tap and two regular games of bowling. Each week bowlers are hopeful they can produce take-your-breath-away moments. Typically, they don’t come. Grand Prize: Recliner But just when bowlers least expect it – poof. Something magical appears. They find themselves in a “zone” and can’t Averages based off 2014–15 Book, Current 21 games or more. miss. The rhythm is there and everything is in synch.